Samikhsya Bureau
The Election Commission of India today approved the proposal for lifting the provisions of the model code of conduct (MCC) in 11 districts of Odisha in view of the impending cyclonic storm Fani expected to make land fall in the state on May 3.
Chief electoral officer Surendra Kumar said the MCC was lifted to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities to successfully face the cyclone ‘’FANI’’ as recommended by the screening committee of the state government.
Kumar said MCC would be lifted in the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balsore, Mayurbhanja, Gajapati, Ganjam,Khurda, Cuttack and Jajpur likely to be most affected by the cyclonic storm Fani .
Election to 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in the state was to be completed in four phase but the election to Patkura assesmbly seat under Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat scheduled for the fourth phase, was adjourned following the demise of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwal.
The ECI, however, rescheduled the election in Patkura assembly seat to May 19 and issued notification for filing of nomination only for the BJD candidate.
On Tuesday Biju Janata Dal President Naveen Patnaik met chief election commissioner Sunil Arora in Delhi and had urged him to postpone the election to Patkura assembly constituency and remove the model code of conduct for all coastal districts keeping in view the cyclonic storm Fani.
In a memorandum to CEC, Patnaik said the severe cyclonic storm Fani is expected to make a landfall in Kendrapara district with a wind speed of 200 km per hour gusting wind speed of 220 KM per hour with a very high storm surge.
The projected cyclone path covers the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore, he said adding that the response to a cyclone of this magnitude has to be immediate, effective and sharp to prevent loss of life.
He said the election should be postponed so that communities can work together in harmony and administration can focus on precious lives and valuable property.
Patnaik said the model code of conduct with regard to disaster management be removed for all the coastal districts of the state so that the government can handle the situation keeping the safety of the people in mind.
